Chapter 11
"Would you mind getting off my back, Beaman?" Stone said, wheezing from the weight of Efraim's knee pushing him into the floor.
"Hell yeah I mind. What the hell are you doing outside my home?"
"I suggest you answer him, Stone, because one of the three of us is itching to work you over." Lee told him, disgust heavy in his voice.
"I had to see for myself . . . if Francine was happy." Stone managed to gasp out and the pressure from Efraim's knee became heavier.
"You're watching my wife? You son of a bitch, you've been watching my wife?" Efraim had no doubt that right now he could kill this man and not think about it ever again. He pushed himself off of Stones' back, resting on one knee a foot or so behind him. Stone pushed himself up and lunged at Efraim. Efraim easily evaded the attack, grabbing Stone as he went past him and rammed his head into the side of the van.
Geiger started the van and pulled out, driving toward the back of Efraim's townhouse. Stone was on the floor of the van, moaning and clutching his head. Lee could see that Efraim was poised for another attach, and he didn't think it was going to go well for Jonathan Stone if he did.
Geiger made the corner, and pulled behind the townhouse, finding a small area that wasn't illuminated by security lighting. Stone rolled onto his back, Efraim could see blood from a cut in his forehead trickle down his face.
"Why did you have to see if Francine was happy?" Lee knew he had to step in and take control, or Efraim was going to kill Stone.
"Carlson. Carlson wants to use her to bring down the Agency and Admiral Beaman. Wants me to have an affair, cause scandal, spread rumors. I can't do it to Francine, I love her."
"You bastard, that's my wife you're talking about!" Efraim dove for Stone's throat, but Lee had known it was coming and he had Efraim locked in a hold. He knew Efraim could toss him, he was hoping that he could reason with him before somebody got hurt.
"Dammit Beaman, stop making this harder than it has to be!"
"You were there Lee, you saw her after Stone left the last time! If it was Amanda . . ."
"If it was Amanda, I would hope that my friend had me in a hold so I didn't lose the best thing that had ever happened to me. Think about it, Beaman. She loves you. Francine married you, not Stone, and she's had the chance. I've never seen her this happy, are you going to take that away from her?" The silence in the car was broken only by the labored breathing of the men inside. Lee felt Beaman's body uncoil, felt him shake his head and heard his sigh.
"No, I'm not. But . . ."
"None of us are going to let anyone take away her happiness, Efraim." Dave said quietly from the front seat of the car. "We aren't going to let that happen. And as your friends, we aren't going to let you do anything you'll regret."
"You need to think this through, Beaman."
"Alright."
Lee let Efraim go and watched as he sat down, his back against the driver's seat. Lee sighed, Damn! When did life get so complicated? "Stone? What the hell are you doing here? Why are you watching the Beaman's?"
They watched as Jonathan Stone crawled to the back of the mini-van and leaned against the side. "It's Carlson. He has pictures of Louise Lang and myself, he forced me by saying he was going to publish the pictures. He wants to bring the Agency down, and he wants to destroy Austin Smyth and," with a nod at Efraim, "your father." Stone leaned his head back, rubbing his shoulder where Efraim had pinned it behind him.
"Jeez Stone, can't you live a normal life? The last time I saw you, you had gotten yourself mixed up in something like this. Do you advertise for this kind of crap to happen to you?" Lee shook his head, watching Efraim and Stone closely.
"Why don't you start at the beginning and tell us what happened?" Efraim was tired and cold, knowing that Francine would be looking for him soon and he had no desire to give her the only explanation why any of this that was happening.
Stone sighed, blowing out a deep breath. "I was in New York, a little over two years ago. I was at some exhibit opening and I thought I saw Francine there. I saw the hair and a flash of dimples, and I was sure it was her. I tried to make my way over to her, but the crowd was huge and there were people around her. Finally I came up behind her and called her name. She didn't respond of course, so I put my hand on her shoulder and when she turned around, I knew right away it wasn't Francine, but the similarities from a distance were astounding. Of course I apologized and said that she had reminded me of someone I had known once. She laughed and said an old lover no doubt. And I said yes. Well, she felt terrible for having made the joke and asked if I would sit with her."
"How did you end up in her bed the next day?" Efraim asked.
"You know about that?" Stone gave a harsh laugh and continued. "We introduced ourselves, she never mentioned who her husband was, just that they had grown apart and that leaving him would be difficult. I found myself telling her about Francine and what an ass I had been, both times I walked out on her. She told me I should rush right back to Francine and beg her forgiveness and prove to her that I should be taken back. But, that's not me, my pride had been wounded. Louise invited me to brunch at the hotel the next morning. I accepted. The next thing I knew, we were in bed and started seeing each other. I didn't find out who her husband was until several months later."
"And where does Carlson fit into this picture?" Geiger asked, not wanting Stone to begin to feel sorry for himself and try and worm his way out of this mess.
"I'm not sure how he got the pictures of us, but I think with the election coming up, Louise' security has been tighter. I know there's an ex-CIA type on her advance team." They all shook their heads, knowing that was how the game usually was played.
"And now, why are you watching my house?" Efraim's voice was deceptively quiet.
"I had a friend rent this car for me and leave it at the condo lot. Carlson watches me like a hawk lest I get cold feet. He's not balanced well, if you follow me. We've been following you for the past week."
"Yeah, Dave and I picked you up on the beltway on Monday morning. You had a chat with some Maryland troopers for dumping coffee on their cruiser." Efraim said, knowing that Stone would have the proof he needed of being spotted.
"Yeah, that's right."
"And I saw you at the Detention Center. I knew I was being watched so I waited."
Stone laughed. "Leonard said you were good, he wasn't kidding. He doesn't know why we've been assigned to follow you. Said you were a straight up guy."
"You followed us home at lunch on Monday." Efraim said, remembering that he and Francine had nearly made love on their back doorstep. He watched as Stone's face became shuttered.
"Yeah. After that, I knew that Francine was in love with you. She's never been one for public displays."
"That doesn't explain why you've been watching us." Efraim said again, not letting go.
"I had to make sure. Maybe Monday had been a moment of passion, unreal, spur of the moment. Last night, I saw you with her in the window. She trusts you. She loves you. There is no doubt in my mind."
Efraim felt himself tense up and saw Lee get ready to move if he went after Stone. He took a deep breath and sighed, forcing himself to relax. "And why are you here today?"
"I really don't know why. I can't go through with what Carlson wants me to do. I can't hurt Louise anymore than she has already been hurt. Maybe I wanted you to find me here. I was hoping you'd be alone."
"I probably would have killed you had I been alone." Efraim told him bluntly.
"I know that."
The four men in the car grew silent; each lost in their own thoughts about what had been said. None of them saw the back door to Efraim's house open or the two women walk out until the side door of the van opened and Francine and Amanda stood there, shocked expressions on their faces.
"What is going on? Efraim? Jonathan!" Francine grabbed the door frame to hold herself up, Efraim was by her side in an instant, holding her until the shock wore off.
"Lee. What is going on here?" Amanda demanded an explanation from her husband.
"I suggest we take this discussion inside." Dave jumped in as he watched Efraim take Francine back in the house.
Amanda turned on her heel after throwing a look at Lee that promised him an earful when she got him alone. Lee sighed. Geiger hopped out of the drivers seat, walking around to see that Stone came with him. Geiger knew that Efraim would be furious with Stone being in his home, but he'd deal with that when that problem arose.
Jonathan climbed from the van, dusting his jacket and pants off. He found himself spread eagle against the side of the van while Geiger searched him, taking the gun from his waist holster. Dave pocketed the pistol and pushed Stone towards the door. Lee walked in behind them, shaking his head.
"I really should have been a doctor." Lee said to the darkness
"Is Francine alright?" Lee asked Amanda as she came back into the kitchen after taking a glass of water into Francine.
"Yes, just shock at seeing Mr. Stone sitting outside her kitchen door was unnerving, that's all. Efraim said she had been pretty anxious about this dinner tonight, wanting it to be perfect for their first dinner party together. I'd say that this little escapade of yours capped it off nicely."
"Awww Amanda, give me a break. We didn't go looking for this." Lee looked to Dave for back up.
Geiger held his hands up, refusing to get into this argument with Lee and Amanda.
"Efraim said that he had spotted the car last night, and this afternoon. And that he brought it to your attention and the three of you decided to 'check it out.' He's getting an earful from Francine right now and the two of you," she pointed at Lee and Dave, "are going to get an earful from me! This always happens! You can't enjoy an evening out. You are always on the look out for trouble"
"It seems to find us, Amanda. Stone was the one sitting across from their house, not me, not Dave."
"Francine will take care of Jonathan Stone when she is done with her husband." She said, her eyes narrowing on Jonathan Stone.
"I'll take care of him now. What are you doing Jonathan? Why did you come back?" Francine said from the entrance to the kitchen, Efraim right behind her.
"I had to make sure you were alright, that you hadn't settled." Jonathan looked at her closely for the first time in years.
"You gave up any right for assurances on my behalf five, no almost six years ago." She shot back, her arms folded across her chest. Efraim put a hand on her shoulder and she reached up and took it in hers.
Jonathan watched the touch between Francine and Efraim, his expression showing that he knew Francine was right. But then, he had never seen clearly when it came to her.
"I admit I was wrong."
"Yes. You were wrong. You are wrong. You have no right to meddle in my life. And when this all started with Carlson, you should have called an attorney. But no, you had to try and fix things yourself. This happened the last time as well." Her anger was evident in her voice, in each clipped enunciation of every word.
"I'm sorry Francie, I'm so sorry." Stone told her, hanging his head.
"Do not call me that. You have no right to call me that! I am married to a man whom I love with every ounce of life I have in me. I don't want you in my life. I didn't want you in my life the last time. Why are you doing this?"
Efraim wrapped his arms around Francine's waist, pulling her back against him. "Hon, don't upset yourself. We're in this together, remember?" He whispered in her ear, kissing her cheek. Francine nodded and relaxed against her husband's chest, letting him support her. She watched Stone and saw the dawning of acceptance in his eyes that she was no longer a part of his life, that she had moved on.
Amanda watched as well, knowing it was time to get to the matter at hand. "We have a good idea of what Carlson is trying to do and why. But we don't know details. Can you give us his plan for this operation? This can't just be him, this is too big."
"He has so much information on different senators and congressmen. He boasts that he's been building this for years, information here, pictures there, confessions in writing. I think he's in this alone, there may be one or two agents that he depends on, but overall, this is his show. He's going to take this to Capital Hill, he said it will make any battle look like children playing with caps."
"We need to talk to Smyth and get Billy up to speed." Lee said, his mind trying to work an angle on what he had heard.
"Are you being followed?" Efraim asked.
"I was, but that's why I got the van, it looks like I'm still in the condo."
"Were you followed here?" Efraim asked him, not liking the possibility.
"No, I was careful, I went through a drive through for dinner, took a ride out the beltway, I circled back through the suburbs, through all of the Saturday shopping traffic, I didn't see anything."
Efraim nodded, he hadn't noticed anyone either, but it never hurt to be sure. "Well Lee, I suggest you drive the van with Stone to the Agency. I'll bring Francine in. Amanda can drive herself, and Geiger can watch our six. I'll make the calls to Billy and Smyth." Efraim headed upstairs to make the calls from his study.
Lee sighed and walked out of the kitchen to the front door. "I'm going to warm the car." He watched Amanda nod, and he touched Francine on the shoulder as he walked past her. Francine gave a slight smile and went back to watching Jonathan Stone. Lee caught Geiger's eye, the silent order to stay and keep an eye on Stone until Lee came back to take him.
"Jonathan, didn't you learn anything the last time? Why are you here, besides being snared by Carlson. He didn't send you to watch us."
"I had to see for myself that you were happy."
"I told you that you gave up that right six years ago. I was clear then that there was no place for you in my life. Didn't you believe me then?"
"Are you telling me that you've changed so much that you could marry a man like Efraim Beaman?" Stone sneered, his face twisted in anger.
Geiger changed his stance waiting for the explosion of her legendary temper to come from Francine. But he had the shock of his life as he watched Francine throw back her head and laugh.
"Oh Jonathan! A man like Efraim? I won't even dignify your comment with my reasons for marrying a good, decent, kind, loving, intelligent, sexy and giving man. You wouldn't recognize the qualities if they bit you on your backside! I'm thankful everyday that I woke up and took a good, hard look at myself and changed what I thought was important to what really mattered in life. I'm happy with my life, happier than I have a right to be. I didn't settle for Efraim Beaman, he settled for me." She turned to leave the kitchen and ran into Efraim and Lee. Efraim opened his arms and she stepped into them, laying her head on his chest and closing her eyes, letting him comfort her.
She heard Lee take Jonathan Stone out the kitchen door, but she held tightly to Efraim, almost afraid to let go of him. She squeezed her eyes, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall.
"Hey, don't cry Francine. It was a hell of a dinner party!" Efraim told her, trying to make her laugh.
"Oh B. Only you would say so!" She hugged him tightly, afraid to let go.
"I'm an optimist! Let's go take care of this."
"B, he said he had been watching us."
"I know. I'm sorry Francine."
"I'm not. I'm glad he saw us together. I hope he got an eyeful of what it means for a man and a woman to truly be in love with one another."
Efraim chuckled. Just when he thought he knew the right thing to say to his wife, she surprised him with something like this. "Hon, just so you know; I didn't 'settle' for you. There has only been one woman in my life whom I have loved the way I love you, and she's right here in my arms. I've never wanted anyone else, only you. Just so you know."
She nodded, the tears that had threatened now spilling down her face. She wiped them away and reached up to kiss her husband. "Let's go.
Efraim nodded, glancing over at Dave who was leaning up against the sink. Efraim got their coats, helping Francine on with hers. Efraim let Dave out the front door, setting the alarm on the panel and taking Francine's hand, they walked out into the night. Stray snowflakes were falling from the blackened sky as Efraim opened the passenger door to the Explorer. Giving Francine a hand up, he closed the door and climbed in the drivers seat.
They drove in silence to the Agency, Efraim watching Geiger's headlights in the rear view mirror the entire way. Parking, they took the elevator to the Operations level and walked into the bullpen.
Billy's light was on and they could hear the unmistakable bellow of Billy Melrose as he yelled at someone. The door to his office flew open, and Billy stood there, angry and looking for new targets. "Where have the three of you been? I've been here for 20 minutes. Get in here and tell me what you have been doing behind my back!"
Efraim and Dave sighed, Francine tossed her head, not liking the tone of Billy's voice and she was going to tell him that as soon as she got the chance.
Walking into the office, Francine looked around seeing Lee and Amanda, but not Dr. Smyth and Jonathan. "Where is Jonathan?"
"Dr. Smyth is talking with him. Sit down Francine." Billy's shout bounced off of his office walls. He watched as his agents took a seat. "Now. Will someone tell me how a Saturday night at the Beaman's turned into a wrestling match?"
"It wasn't exactly a wrestling match, sir." Amanda said, trying to sooth Billy's temper.
"Amanda, Jonathan Stone looks like he was pummeled and pounced on. Efraim is showing some dust as is Lee and Geiger. Who exactly jumped whom?"
"The car had been parked across from my house all day. I thought I remembered seeing it there last night, it had been warming it's engine and I thought it was strange at that time of night. It was there this afternoon, and still tonight when Lee and Amanda came over. Lee and I saw someone sitting in the drivers seat. We had dinner, talked, my sister and her husband left and the car was still there, the engine hot. So we decided to check it out."
"All three of you?"
"Well, Lee and Dave wanted to help."
"I'll just bet they did. Continue."
Efraim sighed. "Lee and I came up in the shadows on the side, Dave approached the driver, I popped the locks and we jumped in. Dave shoved the driver, Lee tossed him back to me and I pinned him. That's when we saw it was Stone."
"Did it ever occur to any of the three of you to call the police?" The veins in Billy's neck were standing out as he tried to rein in his temper.
"Well, no." Efraim said, surprised he hadn't thought about it.
They watched as Billy opened his bottom drawer and pulled out his bottle of antacid. Tossing the lid on his desk, he poured an healthy amount into his coffee cup, sat down and drank it. He watched the faces of his people, grinning behind his cup at the sour looks they each sported. Amanda even shivered, Francine just closed her eyes. "Who do the three of you think you are? The Three Musketeers? Out doing daring do-right deeds for the good of the neighborhood? What's the matter with you? Scarecrow? Beaman? Geiger?" Billy shook his head, he knew that Stetson could be a loose cannon when twisted, but Beaman and Geiger where usually cool headed. He took that back, usually Geiger was cool headed, Beaman had been paired too often with Stetson in the field and now had the tendency to fly by the seat of his pants. His problem was that these were the best agents he had sitting in his office and he couldn't take any of them out of the field.
"Sir? Shouldn't someone be with Dr. Smyth and Jonathan Stone? I don't think it's a good idea to let the two of them alone." Amanda said, worried that Dr. Smyth would turn whatever Stone said against them. She had a healthy distrust of Dr. Smyth and wouldn't put anything past him.
"Amanda, he's in the interrogation room. Smyth called in Phaff, and they're giving him a go through. Don't worry." As Amanda started to interrupt, Billy raised his hand. "Now Amanda, I said not to worry. It will be alright. What do we know?"
Efraim looked at Lee and nodded for Lee to fill Billy in. Efraim felt the adrenaline drain from his system, leaving him wiped out. He rubbed his hands on his forehead in an effort to ease the headache he felt coming on. He smiled when Francine reached out and brushed the hair from his temples with her fingertips.
Thinking to himself, he remembered that this had all started when Lee had gotten word that the CIA wanted to talk to Quigley. "We're going in the wrong direction."
"What? Beaman, what the hell are you talking about?" Billy was frustrated as he tried to understand the direction of the conversation.
"Quigley. Where does Quigley fit into all of this? He's part of this puzzle."
"How so?" Lee asked.
"The tails started the day I came back to work. You had that tip from Justice that the CIA, and let's assume it was Carlson, wanted access to Quigley. My visits to Quigley have been monitored. I'm telling you, he's part of this puzzle, or rather, his research for the Dark Horse. I think we should get Quigley moved someplace safe, or add some guards to his watch. I have a bad feeling about this."
"He has a point Billy," Lee added. "Carlson is not above twisting anything to his advantage. Beaman, did you have any luck with that last clue Quigley gave you yesterday?"
Efraim hung his head. "No, all this came down with Stone yesterday, and I didn't get to it. I'm sorry. But I know that it's gonna take me some time to work it out. He just told me I would find what I was looking for in the Chopin. It's a big work and I'm going to need time to look through the entire score and make notations."
"How long?" Billy took another swig from his cup.
"Billy? Didn't you hear Efraim say it was a large score? It's going to take him several days to mark the dynamics alone!" Francine's voice rose as she became annoyed.
"It's a good thing you play the piano then, isn't it Francine. Help him with it. And get right on it. First thing tomorrow, I want the two of you in this office. Scarecrow, I want you shaking everyone you know to find anything on Carlson. Dave, you're going to babysit Stone."
"Oh great! Thanks! Isn't this where in the movies the guy who is watching the witness gets killed?"
"That's only if you're listed as agent #1 or #2. You have a name." Efraim told him.
"Thanks Beaman. I feel much better. Where do you suggest I 'babysit' Mr. Stone? If anything out of the normal appears to be happening, Carlson will quit and run and we'll have lost everything."
"He's right Billy. We've come too far and know too much to let that happen," Lee didn't want to lose the advantage he believed he had.
The door to Billy's office swung open and Dr. Smyth walked in behind Jonathan Stone. "A party and I wasn't invited. What's the scoop, Melrose? Shake anything loose from your kiddies? Mr. Stone, have a seat, but away from your ex-love, for I fear the Boy Scout is anything but when it comes to his wife."
Efraim's jaw clenched and he saw Francine roll her eyes. He bit the sides of his cheek to keep from smiling at the face she had made, but ending up by ducking his head instead.
"Care to share the funny with us, Beaman? Either of you?" Dr. Smyth sat on the edge of Billy's desk, picked up the coffee cup and sniffed. With a disdainful look at Billy, he put the cup down and gave the eye to Francine and Efraim.
"No." Both Efraim and Francine answered at the same time, trying to share a covert smile with one another.
With a slight roll of his own eyes, Dr. Smyth continued. "Mr. Stone has graciously consented to aid us in our search for information about Carlson."
"That could be dangerous, Dr. Smyth. Jonathan is not an agent." Francine interrupted, worried that Jonathan would put his foot in it.
"Dear Mrs. Beaman. The Agency is not asking Mr. Stone to be an operative, we are asking him to relay information. Period. A conduit, nothing more." Smyth informed her with a twirl of his cigarette holder.
"And how are we to retrieve this information since any contact with us would be suspect." Efraim asked, wanting to push Francine's point.
"I'm waiting for your recommendation, Commander."
"Why do we need him? He just says he can't get close to Francine. It's not like that would be a deception on his part. I don't see what information he could give to us that would be useful."
Dr. Smyth's eyes narrowed as he watched Efraim for a moment before standing up. He walked to the Billy's door, opened it and motioned for the guard. "Take Mr. Stone to the commissary and buy him an ice cream cone while I chit chat with the children." Smyth raised his eyebrow at Stone, who sighed, stood up and walked from the room. He paused, then walked with the guards without looking back.
The door closed with a slam as Dr. Smyth turned back to the assembly of agents in Billy's office. "As hard as this may be for you to accept, Stone is a direct line into Carlson's office and his inner circle. Carlson has him tailing you with agents who are out of the loop, but Stone said he has seen others give reports on haunts and habits. So they are digging deep into your histories, Commander. We need to know what they come up with."
"They aren't going to come up with anything that we haven't gone over before."
"That doesn't stop them from inventing something, does it Commander Goody Two Shoes?"
Efraim shut his eyes and sighed. "No. It doesn't. What do you know?"
"Top points, Boy Scout. They are beginning a work over you and your wife's reputation. You will be seen in places you have no business being, I'm sure doing things you have no business doing. For that, we need to be tipped off.
"My father?"
"It is rather hard to pin the Admiral down, but we need to give him a watch dog."
Efraim laughed. "Right. That won't happen. My father can be irritatingly stubborn when he chooses to be."
A small smile creased Francine's face as she schooled her features to remain impassive at her husband's assessment of his father. The apple didn't far too far from the tree! She shook her head in answer to the questioning look Efraim gave her.
"Why does any of this involve Stone?" Efraim still wasn't convinced that they needed Stone for anything.
"We need to know when Carlson is making his move Beaman, and for that, we need information. Mr. Stone will provide us with this information."
"Why? Why would he help us?" Lee wasn't convinced that having Stone involved was a good idea.
Smyth gave a long look at Francine, causing her to feel the fine hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. Efraim put his hand on her shoulder, a sign of unspoken support.
"Let's call it a belated wedding gift, Scarecrow. Regrets, a purging of guilt for past misdeeds..."
"A chance to get close to my wife," Efraim interrupted Smyth's litany.
"Then it will be up to you to see that doesn't happen, Commander. Oddly enough, the two of you seem well suited to one another. I don't believe Stone is going to make a difference in your relationship. But we can use him to get the information we need to stop Carlson once and for all. It is an opportunity that I will not pass upon. You have until 9 tomorrow morning to come up with a method of information sharing. Understand kiddies?"
The agents assembled before him nodded their answers. Smyth let his pale eyes settle on Francine, his teeth clenching the empty cigarette holder. "I don't want to lose our advantage here, Beaman. I don't like it when old friends are threatened, and I don't like it when I'm threatened. Work it and bring me Carlson's head on a platter." He stood up and walked to Billy's door, stopping to look back at the group. "Next time the three of you decide to jump someone in a van, try not to bruise the suspect. It looks bad." He walked out of Billy's office, letting the door close on it's own.
Francine leaned on Billy's desk, her head resting on her hand. She felt the touch of her husband's hand on her back and she closed her eyes, letting his touch sooth her jangled nerves. "I suggest we all go home and get some rest," she hoped to find support for her suggestion. "Everyone is tired and keyed up, and we're not thinking clearly. Efraim and I will be in tomorrow morning at 9, alright?"
Efraim had stood and put his hand under Francine's elbow as she stood. They left Billy's office without so much as a word to anyone.
The drive home was quiet. Francine sighed as she watched the lights of Georgetown as they passed them. She knew Efraim was watching her, but she didn't know what to say or how to say it. Efraim pulled into the space behind the townhouse and turned off the headlights as he put the car in park.
"Francine?"
"Hmmmm?" She turned and looked at her husband, seeing the concern for her in his eyes. She reached out and touched his hand, smiling as he took it in his and gave a light, reassuring squeeze to her fingers.
"Let's go in the house hon, it's cold out here." Efraim suggested as he raised her hand to his lips, his eyes never leaving hers. She nodded and he winked at her, pulling the keys and hopping out of the car. He opened Francine's door and taking her hand they walked into the warmth of their home.
Francine slipped her coat off of her shoulders and let it drop to the kitchen floor. She smiled as she watched the expression of surprise cross her husbands features, his eyes narrowed, watching her as she slowly walked over to him and put her hands on his chest.
She ran her hands over his chest and the hard flatness of his stomach, letting her hands slip behind him, pulling herself close to him. She sighed as she felt his hands wrap around her waist, holding her tightly against him.
"Francine? You trying' to tell me something?" He smiled as she wiggled against him. Her eyes were closed, her smile soft, her hands caressing his back.
"Do I need to? Tell you that is?" Francine wrapped her leg around Efraim's leg, rubbing it up and down his calf.
"No, I think I'm getting' the message loud and clear." Efraim kissed his wife, wrapping his fingers in her hair and gently pulling her head close to deepen their closeness, his tongue tracing her lips, his teeth gently nibbling on her lower lip.
"B?"
"Mmmmm?"
"Love me." She nipped his lip, sucking on it, causing him to moan and pull her tighter against him.
"I do baby, I do."
"No. Make love to me. Now." She wrapped her arms around his neck, suggestively rubbing herself against him, sighing as his hand caressed her breast.
"I love you Efraim." She gently bit his lip as she drew her nails over his back causing him to groan. "I love it when you make love with me."
"That's how it's supposed to be hon. Now be quiet and let me find new ways to make love to you."
